Five months after issuing am RFI, the CFTC may get comfortable with Ethereum (ETH) derivatives opening up doors for institutional investment. Not only will it elevate Ethereum (ETH) position but CFTC approval would cement Ethereum as a go-to smart contracting platform.

Ethereum Price Analysis

Fundamentals

The CFTC is a US Agency that regulates the options and futures market. All entities or funds wishing to roll out crypto futures or options markets must get a nod from the regulator. With Bitcoin futures up and running, an official with the CFTC now says it may get comfortable with the idea of Ethereum derivatives provided their product “ticks all the right boxes” according to a CoinDesk report. The senior official chose to remain anonymous because the agency “doesn’t do bold pronouncements” further adding that:

“A derivatives exchange comes to us and says ‘we want to launch this particular product.’ … If they came to us with a particular derivative that met our requirements, I think that there’s a good chance that it would be [allowed to be] self-certified by us.”

It comes barely five months after they issued an RFI (Request for Information) back in Dec 2018 when they asked a raft of questions including the technology, the market cap, and market around ETH. According to George Pullen—the senior economist with the CFTC Division of Market Oversight, the RFI was necessary as the contrast would be a differentiator and their approach, not a “one-size fits all approach to crypto.”

Candlestick Arrangement

Although Ethereum (ETH) volatility is low, adding 6.7 percent in the last week, fundamentals point to an undervaluation. Considering what’s in store like Ethereum 2.0, reward reduction and developer preference, it is likely that prices will rally. Regardless, before necessary breakouts above $250 or higher, there must be a reversal and consequent invalidation of Nov 2018 losses.

In line with our previous ETH/USD trade plan, it is imperative that bulls close above April highs. That will signal bulls as prices rally past $170, a vital resistance level. After that, risk-averse, conservative traders can load up with targets at $250. Before then, risk off traders can buy on dips with targets at $190 as ETH prices bounce off the 78.6 percent Fibonacci retracement levels of Apr-2-8 high low.

Technical Indicators

Technically, it is after there is a reversal of Apr-25 bears that risk-off traders can increase their long positions. The bar has high volumes—160k, closing below the lower BB. Therefore, that means, close above $170 or Q4 2018 primary support must be with high volumes exceeding 160k activating the first wave of buyers.